Kathleen T. Moore

Kathleen Therese "Kate" Moore, passed away on October 27, 2025.

Born in Chicago on August 17, 1965, Kate was the devoted daughter of Mary Ann Moore (1936-2023) and James J. Moore (1930-2015) and was the youngest of four children. A loving little sister, Kate was preceded in death by older sisters Colleen Marie (1958-2024), and Laura Anne (1962-2003). 

She is survived by her husband Frederick Moryl; brother Michael; her nieces Karen Kelly-Rogers and Christine Weikel; and nephews Brian Weikel and Daniel Ross-Moore.

She grew up on the Southwest Side, graduating from St. Denis Elementary School in 1979 and Queen of Peace High School in 1983. She went on to Mundelein College in Chicago, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts in June 1987.

Kate's life was truly defined by her love for horses. Beginning in 1995, she trained extensively with Robert Dover, the top Olympic dressage rider in America; and under his tutelage, Kate often vigorously competed at national levels.

In 1995, she won a Bronze Medal at the United States Dressage Federation, and later rose in their ranks by winning a Silver Medal in 1997. Kate achieved the level of National Champion when she was awarded again in 2004. She also qualified as a Top 12 Finalist at the Gladstone-U.S. Equestrian Team headquarters in 1996.

Simultaneously, throughout the 1990s and for years thereafter, Kate worked as a fashion model. Her early initial efforts in Chicago inspired her to move to New York City, where she lived for more than ten years, forever auditioning and sometimes modeling for a wide array of media and retail clients. After leaving Manhattan, Kate was active as a model in West Palm Beach, Florida, for many years.

If anything rivaled her love of horses, it was Kate's passionate interest in women's fashions and designer styles. She also loved music, movies (with favorites as varied as "Yentl" and "Silver Linings Playbook"), and good books. Her recent most cherished author was trauma specialist Dr. Gabor Mate'.

In the 2007 Christmas season, Kate became engaged to Frederick H. Moryl, a Yale graduate to whom she was married in 2008. Kate and Fred loved to travel widely. They brought their love of fine dining to many places. At first, they created a home in Philadelphia, and then later retired in West Chester, PA. It was there that Kate did her final years of modeling, at the QVC headquarters in West Chester.

A complex medical agenda made Kate's final years challenging. She did her best amid all crises, and never let varied illnesses curtail her love for grooming and grazing horses. Her devotion to 17 years of married life with husband Fred anchored her life, as did her loyal regular phone calls to her beloved Mother. Kate and Fred happily offered their hospitality to Fred's four children from a prior marriage (Edward, Nicholas, Luke, and Chloe).

Kate was driven from youth by her monumental ambitions, which led to her quest to leave Chicago and go on her own to live and work in Manhattan. She tried her best in all endeavors; and her witty remarks will be forever missed, along with her energetic, spontaneous verve.

At Kate's request, please make any gifts or donations in her memory to the Equestrian Aid Foundation, www.equestrianaidfoundation.org.